Now that the download was complete, it was only natural to test it out. Tang Zhen couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he imagined the magical abilities these applications possessed.
"What should I try first... Let's start with the basic map!"
With his mind made up, Tang Zhen first tapped to activate the basic map.
At that very moment, a crystal-clear, live image appeared on his phone screen. Upon closer inspection, it was the terrain around his home.
The image was as if someone were broadcasting live from high above with a camera, incredibly clear, though the view was limited to street-level scenery and couldn't penetrate into rooms.
Even so, the map's ability was incredibly powerful!
Tang Zhen wasn't overly greedy; these real-time transmitted images alone were enough to significantly enhance his safety.
Tang Zhen looked closely and found that this basic map could actually be upgraded, but the cost was astonishing. Upgrading from a basic map to an intermediate map would cost a hundred thousand gold coins, though its display range would also expand to one kilometer.
However, compared to the basic map, the intermediate map's functions were much more powerful.
In addition, plugins could be added to the map, such as enemy-friend identification, vertical strike, map cannon, teleportation, and so on, which left Tang Zhen dumbfounded!
Not to mention whether these function plugins were as amazing as described, the terrifying download prices alone were enough to make one gasp. For example, one plugin named 'Terrain Transformation' was described as being able to modify the terrain within the map, usable for one minute per use, once a day, but the download price was as high as one million!
Heaven knows when Tang Zhen would accumulate a million gold coins; that would mean a hundred thousand level-one brain beads! The sight of a hundred thousand monsters gathered together sent shivers down Tang Zhen's spine just thinking about it.
After roughly familiarizing himself with the map functions, Tang Zhen then opened the eye-level projection feature.
A semi-transparent image of a phone screen appeared directly before his eyes, identical to what was displayed on the phone, even showing the currently active map image.
Moreover, these images did not obstruct his vision; when he shifted his attention away from them, the images would automatically fade away. When he wanted to browse the phone screen again, the disappeared image would reappear before his eyes.
Furthermore, he could operate the screen as he wished with his thoughts, whether it was opening software or zooming in and out, he could freely switch, which was simply divine.
This function was an immense help to Tang Zhen, as constantly holding a phone was inconvenient, especially during combat when he couldn't free his hands to operate it. Now, with the eye-level projection, it was as if his bound hands and feet had been released.
He took out a phone case, put the phone in, and experimented with it. It was indeed very convenient, though the operation speed was slightly slow.
Tang Zhen simply used the eye-level projection function to continue checking the remaining applications.
When Tang Zhen opened the basic monster detector, it displayed that it could not be used in the current area and prompted him that it could be integrated into the basic map, but the cost would be ten thousand gold coins.
After the monster display was integrated into the map, whenever a monster entered the map's display range, the map would mark it with a red light spot as an alarm. Of course, the monster level displayed would also be the same as the basic monster detector; higher-level monsters could not be displayed.
Tang Zhen curled his lip after reading it. He couldn't afford ten thousand gold coins to upgrade the map right now, so he just skipped it.
Next was the application that excited Tang Zhen the most, the miniature storage space, also known as the 'personal warehouse'.
However, when Tang Zhen opened this application, a prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes: 【Due to low configuration and version, this device can only run four applications simultaneously. This issue can be resolved after upgrading. If you wish to upgrade, please pay gold coins first!】
Gold coins, gold coins, damn it, they're really obsessed with money!
Tang Zhen was in no mood to complain about this, nor did he pay much attention to the prompt, as he had no gold coins left anyway. According to Tang Zhen's estimation, four applications were enough for now. As for the upgrade issue, he would consider solving it when he had enough gold coins later.
As he had expected, this storage space was exceptionally useful, and storing and retrieving items was just a thought away.
After several attempts, Tang Zhen could confirm that even if other applications became unusable, as long as this one could still function normally, he would still be able to thrive.
After trying a few more times, Tang Zhen took out all the items from the storage space. After hiding the banknotes and precious metals he had brought back, he put some rice, flour, oil, and salt from his home into the storage space.
He didn't bring these things to eat, but intended to sell them to see how many brain beads he could exchange for them.
Although weapons brought in a good profit, wouldn't it be even better to have an additional source of income!
He brewed a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach, then pulled out two packs of cigarettes from the cabinet. After taking a deep breath, he activated the teleportation again. Sure enough, with a momentary blur before his eyes, he was back in the cramped hotel cubicle.
Tang Zhen let out a long sigh of relief, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. However, he had only taken a few puffs when Qian Long, smelling the smoke, opened his door and came over. After a couple of jokes, the guy asked for a pack of cigarettes, quickly pulled one out, lit it, and went back into his room to enjoy it.
Throughout the night, the howls of monsters occasionally echoed, only subsiding with the arrival of dawn the next day. Tang Zhen got up early to stretch, the hard bed having left him particularly uncomfortable.
He handed the rice, flour, oil, and salt, which he had already taken out of the storage space, to Qian Long, telling him to keep some for food and sell the rest to see what price they could fetch.
At the same time, Tang Zhen also told Qian Long that he would be leaving for a few days and asked him to wait there for his return.
When Qian Long saw the food Tang Zhen handed him, he was quite surprised, because these foods were different from the grains he had seen before; there was no sand or mold mixed in them.
Such grains were quite rare in a wanderer's diet, especially since these foods included precious oil and salt, which were even scarcer supplies. According to market prices, these foods would be worth at least several hundred level-one brain beads.
For any wanderer, goods worth several hundred level-one brain beads were considered a huge sum, yet Tang Zhen had entrusted them directly to him.
The two had known each other for a short time, but they were very compatible and trusted each other, which was rare.
Qian Long's gaze lingered on the food for a while before he looked up at Tang Zhen and said, "Be careful!"
Tang Zhen smiled and nodded, then turned and walked out of the town gate. After walking for another half an hour along the path through the weeds, his figure quickly disappeared into the tall grass.
In fact, Tang Zhen, who had entered the tall grass, immediately activated the teleportation and instantly returned to his home.
Taking a deep breath and glancing at the bare walls of his home, an inexplicable brilliance suddenly erupted in Tang Zhen's eyes. He knew that from this moment on, his life would embark on a path filled with both wealth and risk.
He looked out the window, then drew the curtains and turned on the light. He began sorting and cleaning the spoils from his adventure in the other world.
First, he counted the cash, which was confirmed to be genuine currency in circulation, totaling approximately 480,000, equivalent to his accumulated wages for ten years without eating or drinking. In the city where he lived, this amount was enough to buy a decent house.
Next were the gold and silver jewelry. Tang Zhen didn't know much about the market price of these items, so he decided to pick out the pearls and jade and set them aside. Afterward, he gathered all the gold, found the acetylene gas cylinder at home, melted all the gold, and poured it into molds made of aluminum-titanium alloy grooves, casting them into gold bars.
Looking at the pile of dazzling gold bars in front of him, Tang Zhen's heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment.
After processing all his gains, Tang Zhen stretched, lay on the bed, and intended to rest. However, his mind was a chaotic mess at the moment; the excitement of wealth made it impossible for him to fall asleep.
After washing up and cleaning, Tang Zhen left his home with the gold bars and took a car to a nearby gold shop.
Near the pedestrian street, Tang Zhen entered a shop called Fugui Pawnshop. After inquiring about the information he wanted to know, he decided to sell the gold there.
After appraisal and sale, the gold Tang Zhen sold was of high purity, weighing over 1,200 grams. Although the selling price was significantly lower than that of jewelry stores, the total value still amounted to nearly 320,000 in Asian Federation currency.
When Tang Zhen confirmed that he had another 300,000, his mind went blank for a moment. In just a few short days, the cash he had obtained was close to 800,000. For Tang Zhen, who had always lived at the bottom of society, this was an astronomical figure!
Huge profits are the driving force for people to strive and take risks. Tang Zhen was undoubtedly stunned by this money, and while his heart pounded, it also solidified his resolve to go to the other world to get rich.
Small figures at the bottom generally don't have grand ambitions; pressured by money in their daily lives, all they seek is to be well-fed and clothed.
Dazed, Tang Zhen walked out of the gold shop, gazing at the bustling street filled with traffic. For the first time, he felt a sense of confidence and pride in his heart. He now firmly believed that one day he would become the wealthiest person in this city and live the life he desired.
After a while of aimless thoughts, Tang Zhen came back to his senses, took a car to the bus station, and prepared to go to the provincial capital where his sister was studying.
The money from selling the gold was for his sister. He knew his sister was beautiful and sensible, never wasting a single cent. He and his sister had a very good relationship, and they shared the same attitude towards their adoptive father.
Although his adoptive father had not been diligent in raising the siblings, he had, after all, provided for him and his sister. So, from beginning to end, Tang Zhen never hated his adoptive father, only expressed faint complaints, and even desperately earned money to help him pay off debts.
His sister, having grown up in such a family, was noticeably more sensible than children her age and also valued family and kinship greatly. To alleviate the family's pressure, Tang Zhen's sister, Tang Yajie, started working part-time very early, and her academic performance consistently ranked among the best.
Tang Zhen had always observed his sister's efforts. Now that he had the ability to change their difficult situation, he would naturally spare no effort to do so, even if it meant giving his all, he would do so willingly.